Monthly Archives: February 2015

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Question:Lord, our God, life is full of challenges and burdens. Strengthen our trust in you, for we know through our community of faith that you are faithful and trustworthy. Help our unbelief in times of doubt.

Prayer:When have you told the next generations how God has been there for you?

~ David Doudt, member of the Church of the Brethren Spiritual Directors Network

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent Devotionalwritten by Craig H. Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren and ordained minister. (Available from Brethren Pressin print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Craig’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

DAILY LINK WITH GOD 2015 A Daily Devotional Guide from the EYN (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria)

EYN leaders in Nigeria believe prayer is one of the most important ways to support the Nigerian people and the Church. These daily devotions were written by EYN members and published by the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria. Reading them daily is a powerful way we can be in solidarity and connect with our brothers and sisters caught in this crisis. EYN’s daily devotional for 2015 will be posted a week at a time on this blog, appearing mid-week for the following week. More information about the crisis can be found at www.nigeriacrisis.org.

Unit 308 prepares to love all of God’s creation atBrethren Volunteer Service orientation.Photo by Brethren Volunteer Service staff

A reflection by Emily Tyler

Vitality. Intergenerational. Intercultural. Transformation. Hope.

These are some of the buzz words that came up during our staff gathering last week. These words surrounded our discussion of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) and the current situation in our church. While comparing our time together in discussion and reflection with Psalm 36, I could not help but notice the parallel.

“The God-rebel… has no regard for God.… When he’s loose on the streets, nobody’s safe. He plays with fire and doesn’t care who gets burned. / God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, his purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness, nothing gets lost; not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks” (Psalm 36:1-6, The Message).

There is a stark contrast here: the terror and destruction in our world and God’s meteoric, all-surpassing love. It’s a lot to take in.

What I find interesting about these verses is the largeness of God’s love—spanning from meteoric to oceanic, and everything in between—and letting no person or animal slip through the cracks. This is professed directly after such evil is described. The enormity of God’s love even covers those who do evil.

In our culture, we are taught that life is a reward that we earn—through doing the right deeds, buying the right things, hanging out with the right people. Psalm 36 suggests otherwise. God’s astronomical love is a gift. It’s just given to us. But this gift of life and of God’s love is sometimes experienced along with great resistance, just as Psalm 36 shares.

It seems natural to pray for our own. We pray for the Chibok girls, our EYN sisters and brothers, and our Muslim sisters and brothers with whom we collaborate. We pray for our families, our church leaders, and those with whom we share in ministry.

But do we pray for Boko Haram? Pray for their mothers and fathers? Do we pray for our enemies and those who mean us harm? They, too, are part of God’s creation. I believe this is an expression of God’s love. Loving even those who “play with fire and don’t care who gets burned.”

As we struggled and engaged in conversation last week, I was filled with great hope. Just as our EYN sisters and brothers move forward through their current struggle, so also do we press on, seeking to express God’s love to all of creation.

Prayer: Compassionate God, we ask all the “Why?” questions and receive little consolation. But when we pause to look back over previous months or years, we can see you were there with us. We just were unaware of your presence. Open our hearts to receive your compassion.

Practice:Sit quietly, be alert, and be aware of your surroundings. Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks.

~ David Doudt, member of the Church of the Brethren Spiritual Directors Network

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’sLent Devotionalwritten by Craig H. Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren and ordained minister. (Available from Brethren Pressin print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Craig’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

As the military clears the EYN area, some members and pastors have returned to view the damage.

Photo Courtesy of Pastor, Rev. Joel, of the Michika #1 church

“This is the remains of EYN No 1 Michika. No human words can describe it. Now Michika is pillaged, plundered and stripped by Boko Haram. No single shop is unaffected; they are either burnt or completely ransacked.” ~Rev. Joel

Prayer:Source of all Creation, invite us out of ourselves and open our senses to your guidance and the leading of your Spirit. Give us the courage to let go of our desires in order to join your cause.

~ David Doudt, member of the Church of the Brethren Spiritual Directors Network

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’sLent Devotionalwritten by Craig H. Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren and ordained minister. (Available from Brethren Pressin print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Craig’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Prayer: Giver of all wisdom, give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the spiritual food that I need to hear, or I shall be full of myself and deny you.

~ David Doudt, member of the Church of the Brethren Spiritual Directors Network

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent Devotionalwritten by Craig H. Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren and ordained minister. (Available from Brethren Pressin print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Craig’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Question for the day: What does deliverance look like? What are the requirements that make it necessary? Initially life is good, but then, “… nothing was making sense, nothing is as it should be…” These words from our author leave me very unsettled — their mere suggestion raises my anxiety level. On the other side of anxiety, I see the power of God and that He takes action — demonstrating His care and concern.

Stand in awe, stand in joy, but stand firm …. and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. (2 Chronicles 20:17)

In what situation of your life can you recognize God’s deliverance?

Prayer: Mighty God, we come before you with gratitude for the amazing things you do on our behalf. Remind us that your presence goes before us leading us through that which we find most difficult. Amen.

~ Randi Rowan, Program Assistant, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent Devotionalwritten by Craig H. Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren and ordained minister. (Available from Brethren Pressin print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Craig’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Question for the day: Asaph was distressed. He starts out Psalm 77 in the midst of unanswered prayer and pours out his concerns (v. 3). Rather than staying stuck in that moment he applies the principle of seeking the Lord’s comfort by deliberately redirecting his thoughts to God’s character and goodness.

Some of us (and I’m speaking for myself) cannot seem to remember …. to remember. When I get that overwhelmed, I can stay stuck in doubt or fear. So, I have a journal – where I can capture the tracings of God’s love and care on my behalf. Reaching for that — and the transition from doubt to trust can happen in a second. I once lost my journal. Believe me — it wasn’t pretty. What plan have you in place to bring God’s faithfulness to mind?

Prayer: Lord, bring us quickly to thoughts of appreciation that we might dwell on your wonders and steadfastness.

~ Randi Rowan, Program Assistant, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent Devotionalwritten by Craig H. Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren and ordained minister. (Available from Brethren Pressin print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Craig’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Prayer: God for us, we confess that we work as if all depends on us. We confess that all too often we seek our own salvation. As we journey towards the resurrection of your Son, forgive us the temptations of such pride and reveal to us how you are with us, reconciling all the world. For you alone are our savior. Amen

Question: When are you most tempted to do something on your own?

~ Joshua Brockway, Director for Spiritual Life and Discipleship

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent Devotionalwritten by Craig H. Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren and ordained minister. (Available from Brethren Pressin print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Craig’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.